Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,863, Thomas Florence, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Florence, Thomas
NUMBER
S. 34.863
CONTENTS

10,627 1/4 Massachusetts.
Thomas Florence
of _____ in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hutchinson of the Massach ts line, for the term of one year.
scribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8— Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 th of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 of May 1819 and sent to Hon. John Davis, Bridgewater. Boston.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 88.23 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 6 th Sep. 1819 48—
10.27/30 4/31m $136.23
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Not entitled
Let to S. B. Tuttle July 26. 1843.
Amch Buryam Jan 11/56
Notification sent July 26th 1870 to Colonel S. B. Tuttle, Salem, Massachusetts

This may certify that Thomas Florence of Lynn, (now of Saugus) in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, did serve as a Private eight months in the Campaign of 1775, in the Company of Cap t Ezra Newhall, in the 27 th Regiment of Foot commanded by Col. John Mansfield of said Lynn, in which Regiment I, the Subscriber of Lynn was an Ensign, and I further certify, that the said Florence did serve as a Private in the Campaign of 1776 the term of twelve months in the Company of Cap t Ezra Newhall and same Regiment then commanded by Col. Israel Hutchinson, in which Regiment and Company I was second Lieutenant and was discharged, January 1. 1777, in the State of New-Jersey
Lynn April 3. 1810.
Frederic Breed
Enr d 6 th April 1810 Then the above named Frederic Breed personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is just and true. Before me Robert W Brewett Just. Peace.

Robert W. General R. Prescott of Lynn Esqr. is ap- pointed Commissioner to take the evidence of Frederick Breed, on the application of Thomas Florence for a Pension.
Abd. Gould Davis Clk. Manth. Dist.

July 26 '43
J. L. Cananda, Genl Commissioner on Pensions, Washington, D.C.
The Florence? Mar 24 1878

Dear Sir:—
Boston July 22/43
I write you at this time to learn some facts in relation to the pension of Mr Thomas Florence of Languz, who died in that town Sept. 5/26. A copy of a Document, signed by yourself, the duplicate of which this is, no doubt of the original on file in your office to which you have only to refer to substantiate the fact that said Florence was a pensioner; and therewith, give you the copy and should occasion require, I can forward the same to you at your request, if needed to aid you to come to the conclusions to which I shall call your attention in this communication. —
"War Department, No. 10,627. Pension Office, 25 th July 1820. Sir, You are hereby informed that the Secretary of War has not, on account of the amount of your property, consider you entitled to a Pension under the Acts of the 18 th March, 1818, and 1 st May, 1820; and has, therefore, directed your name to be stricken from the Pension List. I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, "To Mr. Thomas Florence, signed "J L Canvaz" Languz, Mass."
Now Sir, As it was a fact that said Florence had property in his possession at the time his name was stricken from the List,

yet, as he had, for several years, been unable to labour, his heirs had a just claim on the property to its full value, for his board &c. and as the old man did not wish to transfer the property in order to obtain that justice from his country, for which his services in her cause entitled him, his name was stricken off as I have intimated and as the copy in this letter proves. Mr. G. =nee, at his death, left no wife & but one child, a son, who has a family - At this time the son is in prison & wishes that justice to be meted out to him which was denied to his father. The questions to you, Sir, are, cannot this son receive the pension which would have gone to the father, from the time his name was stricken off of the pension list up to his decease which took place as before stated Septm. 5, 1826, and if so, will you please inform me of the fact at your convenience?
Any other information in relation to obtaining justice to this claimant, (Charles Florence of Yarmouth) I can communicate, should you request it.
The undersigned, is a merchant, or our brother-in-law to this claimant, & address you in behalf of the said Charles F. of Yarmouth. I am, Dear Sir, Your Obedt. Servt. Gideon Butterfield.

10.627
Thos. Florence
May 189
Jamies
W.H. Eno
age 66 labor  inform has $305. owes 280 worth $25.
Sep 1819

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
- Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Florence resident in Saugus - - - in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 10,627 - now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Thomas Florence - - - late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the fourth day of April - - - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ."
***** * L. S. * *****
"Given at the War Office of the United States, this fifteenth day of May - - - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ."
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War."
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
An undivided half part of twelve acres of upland & meadow in Saugus, in common with his son. - - - } $180,00 one undivided half five acres of wood & meadow land in Saugus. - - - }
One undivided half of one acre of poor land & a wooden hut on it in Saugus. $100,00
$ 280,00
The whole subject to a mortgage to Thomas Page for $180.00 - he also owes to A. Childs $24.00 - and to Jonathan Makepeace $44. - - amount of debts. - $248,00

Also one half of the following household goods owned in common equally with Charles Florence, who lives in the same family and has so done for ten years, to wit,
Six old chairs, three old tables, knives, forks, spoons, shove, tongs, andirons,, a cow, kettle a swine, pot, tubs, barrels, wheelbarrow, all of value of - - - - - $24,50.
The whole of his real and personal property has been appraised on oath by the town assessors at - - - - - $304,50
And the amount of his debts aforesaid is - 280,00
Balance $ 24,50
He is 66 years old - a labourer. He has no wife and lives in the family of his son who is married and who owns the aforementioned property in common. The said Thomas is infirm, weak, and can do very little labour.
He served as a year's man all 1796 in Capt. Newhall's Company in Col: Hutchinson's Regiment in Massachusetts Line.
Thomas Florence.
Sworn to and declared, before W m Wetmore, Judge within named.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. W m Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Thomas Florence do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Thomas Florence
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Thomas Florence took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
W m Wetmore — — Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is three hundred and four dollars & fifty cents - and he owes two hundred and eighty dollars.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July A. D. 1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker

34863
Rev INVALID.
3
File No. 34863
Thomas Florence
Rev Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol, 2 , Page 137
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Official
B
Cole
Hon. J. Minor
Comm te of Pensions
Washington
Thomas H. [?] Map-a-1818
John A. Buchanan

Boston June 30 1856
Dr Sir,
Thomas Florence of Saugus Mass - who served in Col Mansfield Regiment - Capt Newells Co - and afterwards under Gen. Lee - and other officers - thro the Revolution - and also in the war of 1812, received a Pension - up to the time a law was passed that those worth a certain amt, and upwards, the Pension should be stopi -
He was poor at the time - but being of a proud disposition he would not own up to his poverty, but his heirs who are in needy circumstances draw the amt. of his pension to his death -
The fact of his being worth less than the amt required can be proved -
No doubt but what his heirs are entitled to a "Land Warrant" and will you please to furnish me with a Blank application or inform me of the course to pursue to get it for them -
By giving me the required information you would greatly oblige - and I remain
Yours most respectfully
J Mirod - Esq Commissioner of Pensions
Simeon Bitterfield

217
Thomas Florence
Judge's certificate of indigence wasted. Adm Q.

I, Thomas Florence, an applicant for a Pension a native of Lynn in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, know a resident of that part of the same town since called Saugus - Cordwainer - do on oath declare that in the year 1775, I enlisted as a Private soldier, for eight months into the company of Capt. Ezra Newhall, of the 27 th Regiment of Infantry, of Massachusetts, commanded by Col. John Mansfield. - A little before my term of service expired I reenlisted in 1776 for twelve months into the same company - the Regiment was then commanded by Col. Isaac Hutchinson, of the Massachusetts Line After serving twelve months I was verbally discharged on the field by Col. Hutchinson. - I further declare that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of the assistance of my country for support -
Thomas Florence
Boston April 4. 1818
Massachusetts District } Boston 4. April 1818 }
Sworn to before me J. Davis Dist. Judge Mass. Dist.

I, Thomas Florence, an applicant for a Pension a native of Lynn in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, know a resident of that part of the same town since called Saugus - Cordwainer - do on oath declare that in the year 1775, I enlisted as a Private soldier, for eight months into the company of Capt. Ezra Newhall, of the 27 th Regiment of Infantry, of Massachusetts, commanded by Col. John Mansfield. - A little before my term of service expired I reenlisted in 1776 for twelve months into the same company - the Regiment was then commanded by Col. Israel Hutchinson of the Massachusetts Line . After serving twelve months I was verbally discharged on the field by Col. Hutchinson. - I further declare that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I am in need of the assistance of my country for support -
Thomas Florence
Boston April 4. 1818
Massachusetts District } Boston 4. April 1818 }
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
April 19 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Thomas Florence by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
M c Ellis { District Judge U. S. { Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

Robert W.
General R. Prescott Esq. of Lynn appointed to take the evidence of Frederick Breed on the within application. Attd. M c Davis Clerk.

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston June 19 A. D. 1818
Thomas Horence
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Thomas Horence subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked A together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
M c Dowell } Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

Washington D.C. June 20. 1874 -
Sir -
Will you please give the information desired in the enclosed letter from a constituent - concerning the case of Mr. Thos. Florence
By so doing you will confer a favor on
Yours respectfully A. Burlingame per A. S.
Hon. J. Minto Com. Pensions -